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Kingswood Cottage

This cosy b&b is tucked away in large, tranquil gardens, set just a five-minute walk from the forest's footpaths. Local restaurants and Ashurst train station are also close by, making it ideal for people who want to be car-free.

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Rooms from

£95per night

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Occupancy

Rooms

Adults

Children

Ages of children

Location

8/10

Just off the busy A35 on the east side of the New Forest between Lyndhurst and Southampton, it’s a 10-minute walk to Ashurst’s railway station, village shops, two restaurants and two pubs. London Waterloo is just over an hour and a half by train, or by car via the M3 motorway.

Lyndhurst’s independent shops and tea shops are eight minutes by train and there are tourist buses in summer to the main attractions, which include beautiful Beaulieu with its National Motor Museum, Palace House, Beaulieu Abbey and Butler’s Hard (10-15 mins by car). Longdown Activity Farm is close by.

Style & character

7/10

A long driveway takes you to this attractive 120-year-old cottage, which sits in extensive gardens that provide a refuge of peace and tranquility, with just the tinkling of water from a small stream, tweeting of birds and the soft hooting of a daytime owl. The house was once a pumping house to the nearby Buskers Fletchwood Estate and the pump room still has the original pipework in it. The three en suite guest rooms are light, clean and spacious, and there's a lounge-cum-breakfast room.

Service & facilities

8/10

Christine shares her passion for the New Forest enthusiastically, recommending places to visit and providing interesting facts about its history. She is happy to pick guests up from the railway station, book restaurants and taxis and arrange for hire bikes to be delivered to the cottage. Storage is available for guests who bring their own bicycles. A Brand New Forest card provides guests with discounts in local shops and restaurants.

Parking

Wi-Fi

Rooms

6/10

Country-cottage in style with retro floral patterned curtains and cushions, white Regency-style dressing tables and furniture and small sofa or chairs. Compact modern bathrooms in the three en suite bedrooms – two doubles and a twin – come with large shower cubicle and electric shower and heated towel rail. Hospitality tray includes herbal teas and chocolate bar.

Food & drink

8/10

You won't find breakfast ingredients any fresher than here – no wonder it has received an AA Breakfast Award. Melt-in-the-mouth rainbow trout caught by Christine herself, and smoked locally, is served with golden scrambled eggs laid by her daughter’s hens. Fruity jams and zingy marmalades are homemade, sausages and bacon are sourced from a local farm and a fruit salad consists of every variety imaginable. Breakfast is served in the conservatory overlooking flower-filled gardens of sunny daffodils and colourful camellias.

Value for money

8/10

Double rooms from £75 in low season; and from £85 in high, including breakfast. Free Wi-Fi.

Access for guests with disabilities?

No. There are stairs to first-floor bedrooms and a small step into the doubles.